Microbial control system

Abstract

The invention relates to a microbial control system for treating influent water and sump water for control of microbial material in machines which process water such as ice making machines, humidifiers such as cool mist humidifiers and cooling towers. The microbial control system includes antimicrobial treatment media housed in a containment vessel. The treatment media can include any one or more of transition metals and transition metal oxides. The transition metal may be any of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub.

1 . A microbial control system for control of microbial growth in water comprising antimicrobial treatment media within a containment vessel, the treatment media including any one or more of transition metals and transition metal oxides. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment media further comprises an inert support material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein treatment media are in the form of any one of solid particles or layers transition metals or metal oxides on the support material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu and Zn. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transition metal oxide is an oxide of any one of Ag, Cu, Zn and Sn. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transition metal oxide is an oxide of any one of Ag and Cu. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transition metal is a transition metal alloy of CuZn. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the transition metal is Ag and the microbial control system provides solvated silver ions at a concentration of about 1 ppb to about 1000 ppb. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, alumina, silica, titanium oxide, tin oxide, lanthanum oxide, copper oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide thorium oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the support materials are selected from the group consisting of alumina and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the treatment media has a metal content of about 0.01 wt. % to about 15 wt. %. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the treatment media has a metal content of about 0.35 wt. % to about 3.5 wt. %. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the treatment media is a mixture of Ag coated onto alumina and Cu coated on alumina wherein the Ag is present in an amount 0.7% Ag based on total weight of Ag and alumina and Cu is present in an amount of 4.0% Cu based on total weight of Cu and alumina. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the treatment media are mixtures of nanoparticles of Ag and Cu wherein each of the Ag and Cu have a size of about 0.1 nm to about 10,000 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the treatment media is a mixture of nanoparticles of Ag and Cu wherein each of the Ag and Cu have a size of about 2 nm to about 500 nm and wherein the ratio of Ag to Cu in the mixture is about 1:1. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the treatment media is a mixture of nanoparticles of silver and copper on alumina and wherein the silver nanoparticles have a median size of about 20 nm and the copper nanoparticles have a median size of about 100 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein each of the silver nanoparticles and the copper nanoparticles are present in the mixture in an amount of about 0.2 wt. % to about 4.8 wt. % based on the total combined weight of the metal and the alumina support material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein silver nanoparticles and the copper nanoparticles are present in the mixture in a ratio of 1:5. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the treatment media comprises a mixture of silver oxide and copper oxide on alumna support material. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the silver oxide is present in the mixture in an amount of about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %, remainder copper oxide. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the treatment media is a mixture of nanoparticles of silver and copper in combination with nanoparticles of any one of additive metals or additive oxides wherein the additive metals are selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Sn, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub and wherein the additive metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, silver oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, lanthanum oxide, copper oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, thorium oxide. 
     
     
         23 . An ice making machine having a pump for supplying water to one or more ice-forming racks held at a temperature sufficient to accrete ice as the water passes over ice forming racks and an microbial growth control system for control of microbial growth in any of influent water and sump water processed by the ice making machine wherein the microbial control system comprises antimicrobial treatment media, the antimicrobial treatment media including any of transition metals or transition metal oxides, wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub,
 wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, calcium carbonate, natural coral, alumina, silica, alumino-silicates, magnesium silicates, calcium silicates, titanium oxide, tin oxide, lanthanum oxide, copper oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, thorium oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and mixtures thereof, and   wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms, about 30% micropores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms to about 70% micropores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms and about 10% mesopores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms to about 40% mesopores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms.   
     
     
         24 . The machine of  claim 23  wherein the influent water has a flow rate of more than about one bed volume per minute. 
     
     
         25 . The machine of  claim 24  wherein the influent water has more than about 5×10 −6  m dissolved oxygen. 
     
     
         26 . The machine of  claim 25  wherein the influent water has a temperature of less than about 45 C. 
     
     
         27 . The machine of  claim 23  wherein the microbial control system includes a 50:50 mixture of component A formed from 2-500 nm thick Ag on 2-3 mm alumina beads and component B formed from 2-500 nm thick Cu on 2-3 mm alumina beads. 
     
     
         28 . The machine of  claim 27  wherein component A has 0.7% Ag based on total weight of Ag and alumina and component B has 4.0% Cu based on total weight of Cu and alumina. 
     
     
         29 . The machine of  claim 23  wherein the transition metal oxide is an oxide of any one of Ag and Cu. 
     
     
         30 . The machine of  claim 26  wherein the temperature of the influent water is about 45 C and the amount of dissolved oxygen is about 5×10 −3  m to about 3×10 −4  m. 
     
     
         31 . A humidifier comprising a microbial control system for control of microbial growth in water processed by the humidifier, a microbial control system comprising antimicrobial treatment media, the antimicrobial treatment media including any of transition metals or transition metal oxides, wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub. 
     
     
         32 . The humidifier of  claim 31  wherein the influent water has more than about 5×10 −6  m dissolved oxygen. 
     
     
         33 . The humidifier of  claim 32  wherein the influent water has a temperature of less than about 35 C. 
     
     
         34 . The humidifier of  claim 33  wherein the microbial control system includes a 50:50 mixture of component A formed from 2-500 nm thick Ag on 2-3 mm alumina beads and component B formed from 2-500 nm thick Cu on 2-3 mm alumina beads. 
     
     
         35 . The humidifier of  claim 34  wherein component A has 0.7% Ag based on total weight of Ag and alumina and component B has 4.0% Cu based on total weight of Cu and alumina. 
     
     
         36 . The humidifier of  claim 31  wherein the transition metal oxide is an oxide of any one of Ag and Cu. 
     
     
         37 . The humidifier of  claim 35  wherein the amount of dissolved oxygen is about 5×10 −3  m to about 3×−4 m. 
     
     
         38 . The humidifier of  claim 31  wherein the humidifier is a mist type humidifier. 
     
     
         39 . A cooling tower comprising a microbial control system for control of microbial growth in water processed by the cooling tower, the microbial control system comprising antimicrobial treatment media, the antimicrobial treatment media including any of transition metals or transition metal oxides, wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub. 
     
     
         40 . An ice making machine having a pump for supplying water to one or more ice-forming racks held at a temperature sufficient to accrete ice as the water passes over ice forming racks and an microbial growth control system for control of microbial growth in any of influent water and sump water processed by the ice making machine wherein the microbial control system comprises antimicrobial treatment media,
 the antimicrobial treatment media including a mixture of silver nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles and nanoparticles of one or more additive metals on a support material,   wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms to about 50% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms, about 5% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms to about 50% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms and about 10% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms to about 80% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms and   wherein the additive metals are selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Sn, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Uun, Uuu and Uub or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         41 . The ice making machine of  claim 40  wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores to about 40% macropores, about 10% micropores to about 40% mesopores and about 30% micropores to about 70% micropores. 
     
     
         42 . The ice making machine of  claim 40  wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 10% macropores to about 30% macropores, about 15% micropores to about 30% mesopores and about 40% micropores to about 60% micropores. 
     
     
         43 . The ice making machine of  claim 41  wherein the additive metal is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sn, Ni and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The ice making machine of  claim 42  wherein the additive metal is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sn and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         45 . An ice making machine having a pump for supplying water to one or more ice-forming racks held at a temperature sufficient to accrete ice as the water passes over ice forming racks an microbial growth control system for control of microbial growth in any of influent water and sump water processed by the ice making machine wherein the microbial control system comprises antimicrobial treatment media,
 the antimicrobial treatment media including a mixture of silver nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles and one or more additive metal oxides selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, silver, titanium, tin, lanthanum, copper, vanadium, manganese, nickel, iron, zinc, zirconium, magnesium, thorium, or a combination thereof on a support material wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms, about 10% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms and about 30% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms to about 70% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms.   
     
     
         46 . The ice making machine of  claim 45  wherein the additive metal oxides are selected from the group consisting of oxides of silver, copper, tin, zinc, nickel, aluminum, silicon and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The ice making machine of  claim 45  wherein the additive metal oxide is silver oxide. 
     
     
         48 . The ice making machine of  claim 40  wherein the additive metal is present in an amount of about 0.01 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % based on the weight of the mixture of Ag and Cu. 
     
     
         49 . The ice making machine of  claim 45  wherein the additive metal oxide is present in an amount of about 0.01 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % based on the weight of the mixture of Ag and Cu. 
     
     
         50 . An ice making machine having a pump for supplying water to one or more ice-forming racks held at a temperature sufficient to accrete ice as the water passes over ice forming racks and an microbial growth control system for control of microbial growth in any of influent water and sump water processed by the ice making machine wherein the microbial control system comprises antimicrobial treatment media, the antimicrobial treatment media including one or more mixtures of Ag and Cu, Ag and Zn, Ag and Sn, Ag and Ni, or combinations thereof on a support material, wherein the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms, about 10% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms and about 30% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms to about 70% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms. 
     
     
         51 . The ice making machine of  claim 50  wherein the mixture is a mixture of Ag and Cu and wherein Ag and Cu are present in the ratio of about 100:1:Ag:Cu. 
     
     
         52 . The ice making machine of  claim 51  wherein the ratio of Ag:Cu is about 10:1 to about 5:1. 
     
     
         53 . The ice making machine of  claim 50  wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, calcium carbonate, natural coral, alumina, silica, alumino-silicates, magnesium silicates, calcium silicates, titanium oxide, tin oxide, lanthanum oxide, copper oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, thorium oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         54 . An ice making machine having a pump for supplying water to one or more ice-forming racks held at a temperature sufficient to accrete ice as the water passes over the ice forming racks an microbial growth control system for control of microbial growth in any of influent water and sump water processed by the ice making machine wherein the microbial control system comprises antimicrobial treatment media, the antimicrobial treatment media including about a 50:50 mixture of component A formed of Ag on alumina support material and component B formed Cu on alumina support material wherein
 the support material has a pore distribution of about 5% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% macropores having a size larger than about 1000 Angstroms, about 10% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms to about 40% mesopores having a size of about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms and about 30% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms to about 70% micropores having as size of less than about 100 Angstroms.   
     
     
         55 . The ice making machine of  claim 54  wherein the support material has about 60% micropores and about 30% mesopores.